Murphy wrote in May’s Paddock Poop 190 that McDreamy would go LMP2 racing with Mazda, probably in the newly announced World Endurance Championship. A month later, Speedtv.com told you pretty much the same thing in an “exclusive.”

Since then, Patrick Dempsey has announced his Mazda GT team will continue with whatever Grand Am races it can manage given the resources that will be required to launch the LMP2 program, with two cars to go at Daytona and no promises after that. The full WEC was considered and rejected, and the Mazda LMP-power is in doubt due to delays by the Japanese company. When considering a program at this level, it seems badging an AER valve-cover will no longer do.

Ferrari in Grand Am

Slam-dunk? Perhaps for Daytona, but not for the remainder of the season. When Ferrari decided to build a Grand Am 458, Mazda was headed out of GT. Now it appears the gang on International Speedway Boulevard can’t bring themselves to give up an old friend. Mazda will be back in 2012. For Ferrari, who will accept losses to Porsche (tradition, there), but has a hard time getting beaten by BMW, is absolutely apoplectic about a Mazda RX8 winning a race in which anything from Maranello participates. Given the way Daytona has manipulated the rules to keep McDreamy’s cars competitive, no one trusts them not to allow an underweight Mazda to make a Ferrari look bad. If Mazda is back, then Ferrari is probably out as a full-season entrant – unless there’s a privateer who will defy Maranello to run a Prancing Horse without its blessing, or help.

The Houston Ferraris

The best Ferrari team in North America (you could argue in the world) is Guiseppe Risi’s Houston Wild Bunch. (Murphy thinks Houston is the wild west, so he just couldn’t help himself). What will they do next season?

As arrogant as they are in Braselburg, they probably don’t know how much they’ve pissed off their premier Ferrari team. Trust the Bear, there’s no love lost there. So Risi Competizione is considering its 2012 options. Here they are, ranked in order of probability: (1) WEC, (2) Grand Am, (3) American Le Mans. What keeps Grand Am out of first place? Mazda.

Lotsa Protos?

That was the rumor this week that the ALMS would have more prototypes in 2012 than the WEC. Excuse the Bear, he’s choking with laughter. Autocon is probably gone, with long-time leader Mike Lewis leader  certainly gone. The IRS is chasing Intersport around – that’s never good. Tucker? Over 20 state’s Attorney’s General have set their sights on the payday loan, rent-a-tribe king. Cytosport? Greg’s as pissed off as Guiseppe. Dyson and Oryx? Alone? Get real. One thing Chris and Rob don’t relish is to look foolish racing against themselves. Maybe they mean to count a pack of LMP Challenge cars. Or counting on Signature. Now the Bear is really gagging.

What about Grand Touring

Jaguar shouldn’t be back, but against all reason, they might. Is that the most incompetent GT program in the history of the sport? Murphy thinks so. If they’re back, does anyone really care? Robertson’s – and the Doran Ford – are gone for sure, and probably Risi Competizione. If Extreme/Patron is back – and that’s doubtful, too – it will not be with a Ferrari. BMW has been mentioned. Corvette will likely return, but the fuse is burning down there. Keep losing and all that executive support will evaporate overnight. That’s the way big, impersonal corporations work.

Grand Am

Chip Ganassi has to choose between Corvette and BMW power for 2012. BMW wants him, so much they are willing to promise him one of the North American DTM teams in 2013. Chip and others think that Chebby power will have the upper hand next year, though. It does already this season, Chip’s BMW wins having all come in the first half of the season, with the “Worlds Greatest Sports Car Driver” keeping him in front the rest of the way. Starworks is the other BMW team, but as much as the Bear likes Peter, BMW isn’t as high on him.

Robin Liddell may be headed to Autohaus. Jordon Taylor to Stevenson to partner Paul Edwards (Chebby doesn’t plan on losing another championship if they can help it).

The Grand Am schedule won’t be announced until SEMA in November. There are 15 possible venues  to be winnowed down to 12. ALMS will have to go first, and that will answer some key questions: Will ALMS retain Long Beach? Will they keep Road America? According to rumors, both are “in play.”

Out of the Kitchen

Clay Malooley is working on another American Le Mans Series program. Just sayin’.

State of the Series

The Boss and The Don will again preside on the Friday before PLM. If they don’t move away from the ACO’s shackles, the paddock will be very disappointed, Murphy hears. Some say that “status quo” will be the death of the series, or at least the trigger to team departures. However, the Bear thinks they are delusional enough in Braselburg to believe they’re doing “just fine.”

The WEC and the ALMS

In 2012, North America may retain Petit as a WEC round…that’s about 50-50. After that, it’s doubtful. Will there be much worth watching in the American Le Mans Series next year and beyond. Just the Bear’s opinion – and remember, Murphy’s attended over 100 ALMS races. Anybody else out there been more loyal? (That wasn’t paid to be there.)

Your Bookie Lays the Odds.

Murphy’s first job was Society Editor for a British sports car racing publication. He noticed the Limeys bet on everything…and the Bear means anything. So Murphy’s laying odds here at the Jellystone Casino on the things sports car fans worry about.

Robertson Racing returns to the American Le Mans Series  100-1
Risi Competizione returns to the American Le Mans Series in 2012  2-1
Petit Le Mans is a World Endurance Championship round in 2012  Even money
Sebring is a World Endurance Championship round in 2012  1-5
Ian Dawson brings a race team to a North American event  3-1
An Ian  Dawson entry takes the green flag in a North American event  10-1
Audi races a prototype in the American Le Mans Series  50-1
Peugeot races a prototype in the American Le Mans Series  200-1
Jon Field dodges the IRS  50-1
Level 5 races in the American Le Mans Series in 2012  50-1
Cytosport/Muscle Milk contests a full 2012 ALMS schedule  150-1
Dyson Racing contests a full 2012 ALMS schedule  2-1
Ferrari contests a full 2012 Grand Am schedule  5-1

by A.C. Guillermo

 The storm clouds are gathering. 2012 is shaping-up as a showdown year between the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Series presented by Chip Ganassi and the floundering American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron.  

I know 2011 has barely started, but already the stage is set for a battle next year between Daytona and Braselton. If you only knew what I don’t know! (Editor’s note – AC must have consulted Yogi Behra on that one).   Each sanctioning organization is set to embark on an aggressive expansion, and you can put your money on the ALMS coming out the first loser when it is all said and done.

Let’s check the scoreboard.   Next year the Daytona Rolex 24 will celebrate its 50th Anniversary, while Sebring will its mark its 60th anniversary. Although Sebring has a better history, a more exciting circuit, more fans, a much better entry list, and a far better anniversary celebration, they still don’t have a Hooter’s in Sebring. Grand-Am 1, ALMS 0.

Scott Pruett won’t be entered at Sebring. So make that Grand-Am 2, ALMS 0.  

Next year the ALMS will again host two rounds of the ILMC, and will likely expand into at least three new markets by 2013.  Meanwhile, Grand-Am will continue with its non-spectator concept, using Homestead as a model.  Expect to hear about races in 2012 that were held at five new venues nobody will know about, adding to the allure and mystique of Grand-Am racing.  Grand-Am 3, ALMS 0.  

Grand-Am will be the feature race at the Austin F1 weekend, and each DP will have an F1 pilot as a co-driver. You heard it here first.  Grand-Am 4, ALMS 0.  

Grand-Am will begin to field a huge variety of GT3 entries in 2012, including Audi, Audi, Audi and Audi.  Grand-Am 5, ALMS 0.  

Grand-Am will run a version of the DTM (see my previous columns for details) and will somehow manage to make all the cars look alike. Grand-Am 6, ALMS 0. 

Chip Ganassi will not be allowed to race in that series. Grand-Am 7, ALMS 0.  

ALMS will continue with its internet broadcast concept, while Grand-Am continues broadcasting on the NASCAR Network (new name for  SPEEDTV to be announced soon).  Grand-Am 8, ALMS 0.  

The new DP bodywork will be stunning, sleek, ground-breaking and evocative (thanks for that word, Godwin). Even though they may still make your eyes bleed, Wayne Taylor will love them, and so will you. Grand-Am 9, ALMS 0.  

The ALMS Green racing initiative will be countered by a far more effective Grand-Am marketing program touting the Rolex Series’ lack of fans, meaning far less fuel is consumed by people coming to Grand-Am races than ALMS events. Absolutely genius.  The “Less fans. More Fuel” slogan will first appear on the Spirit of Daytona entry.  Grand-Am 10, ALMS 0.  

Mark R. has assured me Grand-Am “Competition yellows” will continue in 2012, and will be supplemented by “Competition Timing & Scoring,” that will add and subtract laps from various teams as needed. Grand-Am 11, ALMS 0.  

Finally, the big one. I know you won’t believe this, but it is going to happen. At least one round of the Rolex Series (and maybe two), will be on an oval next year. Yes! An oval race for sports cars. Why not! Its going to be wild. You think that will be too hard on equipment? Ever seen a street race?  Grand-Am 12, ALMS 0.  

A shutout.   I think my track record is pretty solid in reporting on the NASCAR Grand-Am Series. If you checked back at my previous columns, you would not find one single true thing I reported was not true considering the truth is what happened and the untruth didn’t, unless the truth was falsely reported as untrue.  

Grand-Am Notes 

• At Barber, J.C. France was sporting one of his new “Don’t You Know Who I am?” shirts, part of a new apparel line he designed exclusively for wealthy offspring who frequently get pulled over by the police… 
• A 17-foot tall statue of Scott Pruett will be erected in front of the NASCAR offices later this year, joining statues of Ann & Bill France, Dale Earnhardt and Tim Richmond …. 
• Yours truly was not a bit surprised to find out an ALMS Media Guide was found at the Bin Laden compound in Pakistan …
• Since nobody showed up for the Grand-Am Fan Club meeting at Barber, any future meetings will be held in Hurley Haywood’s office at the Brumos dealership in Jacksonville .…
• Although the same team wins every Rolex Series race, I am told that will change in 2012.  Suntrust has already purchased three victories, and the Gainesco Team is seeking financing to purchase two others …
• NASCAR and SPEEDTV issued a joint statement vehemently denying there was collusion between the two parties to prevent the ALMS from being on that network. SPEEDTV also explained that it was a “technical problem” that resulted in Scott Pruett only talking about Grand-Am cars while commentating at Le Mans last year…
• Daytona officials were devastated when the State of Florida recently voted down permission to have fans buried at the speedway.  I’m told the Daytona Security Department was especially disappointed. …
• Heads-up for ALMS fans and IMSA staff: Baltimore has the highest VD rate in North America …
• Rumors still persist there is a supporting series sanctioned by Grand-Am; I’ll let you know what I find out…
• More details to come, but I have to get back to my hobby of posting anti-ALMS rants on the Grand-Am forum.

 

 A.C.

After hastily announcing and error-plagued 2011 schedule at Road America, Murphy didn’t expect a mea culpa, but he thought there might be an update of sorts. Like what about Road America. The track now lists the American Le Mans Series as a Saturday race, and the Plymouth Town Board has approved late-running. Why the silence?

The Boss said there might be an “event” stuck into the big summer gap. Then, on Saturday he said there would be no race added to the season schedule. So what’s “The Event” other than that new television series rip-off of “Lost?” Braselberg claims 12,000 showed up for something-or-other-on-Main in Greenville, but is that any compensation for teams without a sponsor and sitting on their duffs for three months? An “event” is to a race like a docudrama is to live coverage.

As if The Gap wasn’t enough, it turns out the Le Mans test day will be on April 24, just one week after Long Beach. That’s another major black eye for the series.

The Coverage

Another big non-announcement was the television contract (or lack of one). Some say to expect the same as this season, meaning live coverage of about half – including the two ILMC races – on Speed, and some major network telecasts, docudramas included, but not exclusively. All that done by that new “in house” production department. If you think they’ve shown their management skills in other areas, why not have the Braselbergers get into the media production business?

Murphy continues to think it’s going to be quite different. There was a party Friday night by the television folks, including the “on-air talent.” It was a farewell party. The Bear’s been told we’ll not see them again. But who will we see? And what does that say about the Speedtv coverage that the Boss praised in his Friday oration? Gone, Murphy hears. Gone to flowers… Sorry, wrong song… Gone to docudramas on Versus, with occasional runs on a network. Like the IRL. Did you watch much of the IRL this year? Neither did the Bear.

Speaking of in-house production, did you see the nubile college girls running around in blue vests with entry-level camera gear? The ones with no clue, pointing lenses at random? That’s in-house production, intern division. Let’s see, motorsports pro photographers are Hugewally, Rizzo, and Jimmy, and the available photo interns are Athens sorority girls?

In a week when reduced television coverage was rumored, the series scored perhaps its biggest – most visible, anyway – print media coup, a cover and forty page article in Road & Track featuring the principal GT contenders.

The Event

Not that fictional place-holder sometime in 2011, but the big Petit Le Mans right there at Road Atlanta. No one the Bear knows claims to have seen a bigger crowd – ever, with 124,000 was mentioned. In 2008 113,000 was reported, and in 2009 a rainy week drew 102,000.

The year in attendance was a split decision, the Bear hears – five up, four down.

Grids

Looking ahead to 2011, the Braselbergers were happy to announce Mexican Lambos, and perhaps a pair of Panozies, both likely to keep the Cats company, but no R8 in ALMS. Bet on R8’s in the Florida-based series, though.

ACS says they’ll run a pair of Fords all year. The Bear hopes so. CORE Autosport wants to run some kind of an ALMS prototype. So far, that’s little more than a fishing expedition for sponsors and funded drivers.

An accomplished prototype driver whose family had a long history with Mercedes and Nissan will plot a GT Porker with a famous North American racing team, itself leaving the prototype ranks to contest GT in the 2011 season.

The “Green Racing Leader” can’t figure out what to do with a hybrid GT, so there will be no electric Porsche, nor any other.

Rumored BMW motorsport cuts will leave BMW North America and Rahal without much help in 2011. How long can that continue?
      
Daytona champion to stay with Porsche, add second DP; given what the Bear’s heard about the teams’ source of funding, the choice of package says a lot about the relationships being built/rebuilt at International Speedway Blvd.

On balance, the paddock chatter indicates improvement on the margin of the ALMS GT grid with Lamborghini and more Fords for 2011. Meanwhile, Grand Am will make revolutionary changes, leading to a major remake of its GT field.

Miscellany

The Bear poked fun at the official cheese of the American Le Mans Series, but that was before he tried Yancy’s Fancy at Petit. It’s really yummy. Leave some of that in your car, and any self-respecting Bear will rip it to pieces to get in.

Braselberg said they were working on a “more accessible” Green Challenge. Does that mean it won’t be restricted to slide rule geeks (for those few living who still remember slide rules)? That’s the objective, but the real problem remains: There’s never been a  non-visual sport.

Seen at Paddy’s (beyond the usual suspects): Gordon Murray, David Price, Gil Campbell, a Porsche ALMS factory driver reunion, a working Abruzzi , miscellaneous eye candy with drivers and executives (not sure which of the latter were groupies or rentals).

No road cars are necessary to homologate the Abruzzi. You did notice it was entered in GT at Petit, didn’t you? How do you suppose that happened?

Not a big surprise, but there was some angst in the paddock about the cost to teams of the 2011 prototype rule changes. One source called it a “revolt of sorts” that could lead abandonment of some proposals. So there’s turbulence in the ACO’s world. Are you surprised?

Porsche to F1, Audi in sports cars? Murphy’s hearing, “snicker, snicker.” The Bear can’t find anyone in the sport who believes it.

It has been a while since you’ve heard from A.C. My temp job with the Census Department has really tied me up, and I haven’t been able to attend any Grand Am races since Daytona.

There has been a lot of news about the Rolex Series recently, and its all been good. Probably the best thing is J.C. France has been fully exonerated of those bogus charges against him.  J.C. is a good citizen and an asset to the Daytona Beach community and the Rolex Grand Am Series. It almost brought a tear to my eyes when I saw all those “Free J.C.” Banners at the Rolex 24. 

It was obvious from the start J.C. was targeted by law enforcement. This is called RWGP (“Rich White Guy Profiling”) and has become a serious problem in our country.  The fact he has 30 traffic stops on his record proves the police are unfairly targeting him. From what I understand, the ACLU was going to defend J.C. because of the nature of this RWGP case.  Fortunately, all charges have been dropped.

I wasn’t surprised to hear the good news that Scott Pruett was just named the “Most Interesting Man in the World,” replacing that bearded Dos Equis guy (“Stay Thirsty my Friends”). The announcement was made by the NASCAR Road Racing PR Department after a poll of Grand-Am fans (Andy F., I know you stuffed the ballot box, but I won’t tell anyone).  As I’m sure all you Grand-Am fans know- Scott is simply the greatest race car driver ever.  By the way, Memo Rojas is a great guy too, but not that interesting.

I received an email from a reader suggesting I comment on the dwindling car count in Grand Am. First of all, 12 DP’s is an excellent number, because it’s quality, not quantity that matters.  More important, it’s kind of cool that there is usually one car per spectator at Grand Am races, which creates a very intimate feeling.  NASCAR does not overlook anything!

I really like the new ballast drawing instituted for the GT class. If you are not familiar with it, it is quite simple: When a Mazda team arrives at the track, they draw a number [between 74 and 76] out of a hat, and that is the amount of extra pounds they carry in the race. Non-Mazda teams are exempt.

Don’t know if any of you have had a chance to see the massive new NASCAR offices on International Speedway Boulevard, but they are awesome.  The lobby features a tribute to the France family and the importance of NASCAR to our society. Its like a little museum; there’s a special display by Winston, showing the number of NASCAR fans who got lung cancer during their sponsorship. Another display shows the technology advances of NASCAR (for some reason the timeline ends with the 1970s).  A neat item on display is the actual urine sample Jeremy Mayfield submitted for his drug test.  Probably the coolest thing is the “Wall of Contrived Controversies” the NASCAR PR department has dreamed up to create fan interest.  They were just adding the Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson feud when I was there the other day.  Anyway, the Grand Am office is on the first floor in the back corner, next to the restrooms and the “Office of Loyalty.” Inside the Grand-Am office there are 159 different photos of Hurley Haywood on the wall, arranged in a pattern that spells “DAYTONA.”  Really cool.  If you ever have a chance to visit the new offices, I recommend it.

The “silly season” is upon us already!  Lots of juicy rumors.  I’ve heard Jim France is the stroke of a pen away from buying the three Panoz tracks.  If he steps up to the plate, and I think he will, expect the Rolex schedule to expand by three races next year!

I’ve also heard the next generation of DPs will be announced later this year!  The rules will send shockwaves throughout the road racing community (and especially in Braselton).  I am sworn to secrecy, but I will give you these hints: Jim Hurtubise, Zima, and The Village People.

A.C.

With the big enduro less than three weeks away, I must admit the anticipation is just overwhelming. At least I got a fix at the Bore before the 24, where I had a chance to preview some exciting new things awaiting the hundreds of thousands of fans who will be attending the Rolex 24.

Yes, there are only 29 entries (plus 13 field-filling GT3s). The DP category has been steadily declining, and even Andy F. would acknowledge a lack of diversity, let alone numbers (well, actually he probably wouldn’t). But this is part of NASCAR’s strategy.  The three main elements of this strategy are declining fields, dwindling sponsors/manufacturers, and a fancy new office building! In Braselton, they only have two-out-of-three of those elements!

NASCAR is going all-out this year to prove Grand-Am and the Rolex 24 will be the success their press releases claim. From race operations to fan activities, and everything in between, NASCAR is taking Grand-Am to new levels.

While at the test, Mark showed me the new scales to be used this year. After the debacle last year’s 24 when the Brumos car shed pounds faster than Jenny Craig during the race, they realized a new technology was in order. The new scales contain a special computer chip that detects just how important the team owner is, thus adjusting the weight as needed. Pure genius.

For fans, a new concept is the Daytona Speedway Security Department’s Gauntlet of Abuse©, in which every spectator will encounter three stimulating experiences when entering the track: First, it’s the “You Can’t Park Here” Greeting; next, the popular “You Can’t Use this Gate” argument, and finally; the “Let Me See Your Credential You Asshole” confrontation. But its all in good fun, and a unique way for fans to bond with the World Center of Abuse.  Best of all, on the way out you will receive a 10% discount for NASCAR merchandise.

In the Fan Zone, look for the new exhibit paying tribute to the third generation of France children titled “Don’t You Know Who I am.”  And the eye-opening “Why Le Mans Sucks” display will educate those who dare to even consider going to Sebring. And best of all, Scott Pruett plans on personally greeting every single spectator entering the track prior to the race.*(see note)

But those are just minor things. The big news is what NASCAR and Grand-Am bring to the track this year. Fourteen thundering DPs and a boatload of Mazda RX-8s and re-bodied Pontiacs. Is that exciting or what?  Riley-Riley-Riley-Riley-Riley for 24 Hours on a banked track surrounded by 180,000 empty grandstand seats. There is nothing like the Rolex 24!

Of course, the elitist ALMS fans are laughing at NASCAR’s 29 entries for Daytona.  So how many entries will there be at Sebring?  How many Rileys?  True, Sebring may have the U85-powered Radicals, but what else? It’s the same old tired argument that NASCAR wins every time.

The media who are in the know are firmly convinced that this year’s Rolex will be the best in the history of endurance racing, both on and off the track. As you watch this year unfold, you will see A.C. is right. 29 is just fine.

A.C.
_______________

*subject to not happening. Weather conditions or lack of spectators may force cancellation. No autographs. Do not look him in the eye or ask questions about Paul Gentilozzi or Jaguar. May be replaced by Henri Zogiab or J.C. France. Offer not valid on days that end in “y” or if a Coyote qualifies on the pole. No rain checks.

Although he’s been busy with some other things lately, it’s not the only reason Murphy’s been mostly absent in October. The fact is that there’s little going on in the sports car world, which, the Bear has to point out, is news in itself (though not of the kind to put words on the page).

Eerily quiet, is  how one friend described it – that coming after another insider predicted this winter would be among the most challenging for racing in decades. Murphy didn’t say “competitive,” he said “challenging.” There’s a big difference.

Max’s Traveling Circus

Like, for instance, over in the pinnacle of the sport (no, the Bear doesn’t mean you guys down in Daytona). The teams’ “win” against Max has turned out to be Pyrrhic for those teams owned by or otherwise associated with manufacturers, anyway. Honda and BMW took a hike, followed by Toyota – the latter of which Murphy predicted long before the fact – then Mercedes dumped long-time-partner McLaren (and they even own a bit of the Brit team founded by the New Zealand racing icon). Brawn sold out to Mercedes. Look for Renault’s departure, too, as soon as they get over the idea that – as signatory to the new concord (English spelling) – It will cost them a pile of Euros.

Erosion

That’s not to say that the stockers are doing much better. The Bear tuned flicked through the channel carrying its recent Texas stop. Must have been something else going on in the Lone Star State, given the vast expanses of empty seats in Fort Worth.

Mixed News

Over in sports car racing, the little bit of news we got was decidedly mixed. Highcroft confirmed its 2010 plans, one HPD ARX-01c (you’ll notice Murphy didn’t say “Acura”), while hoping for funding (who isn’t?) for another. On the “not-so-happy” side, that’s as clear an “announcement” as  you’re going to get that de Ferran will not return. The Bear is joining the Pollyannas buying into the Peugeot rumors, not yet, anyway. He might take all that a bit more seriously once it’s clear Gil has funding in place for the IRL team that’s his first priority. Besides, the most credible rumor Murphy’s heard is for a Mexican Pesca connection.  (Not to be confused with La Pesca, Tamaulipas, Mexico.) If de Ferran shows up with a Peugeot any time during 2010, well, Murphy will just have to eat crow.

Family Laundry

A family racing conglomerate is doing everything it can to keep documents and arguments in a North Carolina divorce fight sealed. Lawyers for the famous principal in the case say publicizing certain information would turn the case into a “public spectacle” and “would cause huge adverse effects” for their client.  Murphy’s heard more, but he’s going to leave you to your own devices on this one. Google at your own risk.

Since we’re on the topic of La Familia, Murphy spent some time at Seaside’s Embassy Suites bar with the racing-driver-linebacker-weight-lifter-brawler and his lovely companion a while back, so he was a bit puzzled to read Hurley’s co-driver was rooming with a not-quite relative (son of his father’s first wife – no, that doesn’t make him a “half-brother”). What happened to the lovely thing? Perhaps just put-them-off-the-scent eye candy, like Megan?

Advertising

Murphy wrote earlier that Comprent (the Athens, Jaw Jaw, operator of IMSA Lites) might field a pair of LMPC’s – perhaps even had a purchase in the works. That was premature, since this week they ran an ad for funding disguised as a press release. The Bear translate for you: “We’d like to buy one if we had the money. Can anyone help? You can drive.” A page borrowed from Creation. So that’s not good news. A friend of the Bear’s says there will be four Challenge LMPs on the grid in 2010, but now Murphy’s not so sure. Intersport is in, though a second driver who would complete the necessary funding hasn’t been named; it’s been speculated that no money has yet changed hands there. Kevin in Florida is said to be another “for sure.” (Murphy’s a fan of Kevin and Kevin’s kid, who’s been doing too much skiing and too little driving lately.) With Comprent not yet “in” that’s just two. The Bear wonders what the lead time to build one of those things is?

Holiday Shopping

Hinting that not all is as it should be for a well-known Grand Am team, a very important driver is shopping for a ride. That shouldn’t be problem since he’s that most valuable rarity – a really good driver with a completely adequate budget.

McDreamy

Team Seattle and Hyper Sport / Dempsey Racing will continue the alliance forged around its 2009 Le Mans entry, with two cars for Daytona and the remainder of the Grand Am season. “Beginning in the American Le Mans Series in a factory-backed Panoz GTLM, Hyper Sport has advanced into Grand Am sanctioned road racing…” That reads like former Panoz driving school instructor Joe Foster has joined the growing ranks of disaffected former PMG employees? Who remembers Joe’s pinch-hit drive for an injured Bill Auberlen at Mosport? It took real talent to make BMW’s M3 GT-R look slow.

Ferrari Debut

Murphy’s been saying you could expect a Ferrari F430 on Daytona’s grid. It will be later than that. Since Daytona can be 1/3 of an annual Grand Am budget, it’s more cost effective to test in a new program, then debut at a sprint.

Not Happening

Another item in the “behind the lines” category (with the Highcroft and Comprent pressers). We heard this week that Braselton’s Boss Hog would be headlining a green confab at Clemson (Go Tigers). How does that put cars on the grid? Build excitement? Find a title sponsor? Short answer: It doesn’t. Maybe he’s angling for a bail-out?

In the meantime, for those of you keeping score at home, subtract at least $3 – $5 million from television and partner income from the Series’ bottom line for the continuing attrition of manufacturer participation in 2010. That’s what the Bear hears, anyway.

Murphy will be back with his First Annual Great Christmas Quiz next.

I’m writing this in the Homestead media center as I occasionally glance at the monitor to see yet another caution period in front of 80,000 empty grandstand seats.  Caution is the operative word in Grandamland this weekend. The shock has yet to wear off over the arrest of one of our legendary drivers. Indeed, when I left the World Center of Racing yesterday morning, things at International Speedway Boulevard were in full damage control mode.  No Lamborghini in the parking lot.

Of course, this sad incident is in no way a reflection of the Rolex Series. And quite frankly, no one here particularly cares, since the Indy Racing League is getting 98% of the attention.

While some may use this incident as a reason to bash the France family and its support of the Grand-Am series, you must admire their courage (and bank account). So many teams benefit from their financial generosity, its hard not to admire their honest and open way of doing business. One bad apple should not reflect on the whole tree.

I was very pleased to see the 2010 schedule and that Grand-Am is not wasting its time at elitist venues such as Laguna Seca, Road America, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Infinion or Mosport.  I hear for 2011 they are considering running every race at Daytona, which would be fine with me and make a great deal of sense. The idea of a spec-track series has been going around the halls of NASCAR for several months and I think this idea will be a winner.

Other Grand-Am news for the 2010 season I heard about this weekend: Daytona International Speedway’s legendary security department will be simply known as the “SS” beginning next year (Speedway Security). They just got a grant from the American Oval Track Institute to purchase special RRF (Road Racing Fan) Pepper Spray for next year’s Rolex 24  …All Koni Series races will run on Mondays in 2010, according to a GA official who said “mainly because they simply always get in the way of everything” … All Grand-Am team owners will wear special sensors that will activate an alarm if they stand within 25 feet of a an ALMS Le Mans Challenge car… Grand-Am Koolaid Award winners Matt C. and Andy F. will be awarded special vacation packages at the Chateau Elan in Braselton Georgia … Jim France will no longer pay for Rolex team owner’s massages … Jim Hunter’s new book “Dirt Under the Nicotine Patch: An Underground History of the American Le Mans Series” will be out in January (Jack Flowers is rumored to be the ghost writer) … Since most Grand-Am races are non-spectator events, the NASCAR PR Department will bus in residents of Assisted Living Facilities so the “Record Crowd” press releases can continue.

Well, I see now that the race will end under caution, and so will the season. And so will this column.

A.C.

That pilot hogged so many laps the Jedi were fuming. Even more ominous, a Sith apprentice well known within the Empire had stationed himself outside Turn one to dutifully record upon tablets who piloteth the new land speeders, and how fast. Like his driver compatriot, he would report to the Dark Lord on the Peninsula.

The Dark Lord is angry. With one purchase order already in hand, the challenge to the Empire is clear and present.

Rolling

The oil magnate wrote off one of his two guppies testing at Daytona last week. The TWR design acquired by a builder of ubiquitous prototypes and “sold” (or something – all that’s a matter of legal dispute) to the Houston gentleman driver is pretty much a lame duck, or a ruptured duck, or a dead duck.

The Bear’s gotten the story behind the Lola-Krohn fracas. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Martin expected his “partnership” with the oil gazillionaire to be about selling cars (since that’s the business he’s in). So it came as a big shock when Roger mentioned (rather off-handedly) that the oil magnate’s chief henchman had (rather rudely, Murphy hears) turned the Captain down when he wanted to buy two of the Lolas (better engineered, was the observation) instead of the Rileys he ended up with. Is it any surprise that news was doomsday for the partnership? That’s what the Bear heard anyway.

A reported Italian tire failure sent the Dee Pee barrel rolling down the front “straight” (beginning past the tri-oval, Murphy’s told, past the turn-in to the infield course and nearly to NASCAR 1)  The car is toast. With the legal dustup between the oil gazillionaire and the car’s Brit builder it certainly won’t be replaced. So where does the 1970’s psychedelic green go? To a Challenge LMP?

Rolling II

After the weekend the sports stations were gushing over the same mundane kind of “roll-down-the-track” routinely seen in NASCAR. That media machine was doing its usual good work keeping the Empire at the top of “Sports Center.” The much more spectacular Scott Sharp ALMS incident was unnoticed. Is that becaue the “good guys” in Braselton think it should be about “the racing,” or perhaps because it didn’t fit their “green message?” Or has the our favorite road race series dropped so far below the radar that even a spectacular crash goes unnoticed?

Talks

There are not-entirely-cordial talks in progress about the Braselton racing conglomerate  and its biggest tenant at its most iconic property. Neither is happy it seems. The Georgia gang seems to want to offload operating costs while retaining the cash flow. The tenant wants some of the latter in return for picking up more of the former. The Bear overheard the phrase  “sanctioning authority for international events.” Wonder what that means?

Thanks

The Bear sent his friend his “visit” tracking results, now over 25,000 a month, only to have one of them claim to be responsible for most of them. Murphy’s west coast friend says he’s “obsessed with rumor, innuendo, and conspiracy…especially when they’re based in fact…” Some in high places would like to silence the Bear. The furry one will persevere.

Auto Union and Acura

IF Audi has any interest in an ’10 car, it has to be well underway by now, even if it’s a revision of the R15. Reports (ok, “rumors,” but there are rumors and there are rumors, right?) are that indeed “a new car” is “in build.” Whether that’s to ’10 rules, or to ’11 rules (though those rules aren’t published yet, Audi and others have met with the ACO and have likely gotten enough information to proceed with initial design), or both, isn’t known.

New car or not, Audi’s unlikely to return to an ALMS in which there is no competition, and it’s all but certain now that Acura will not return under any circumstances. (Though the Bear still thinks that some smart competitor will grab an HPD engine lease.) Even if Toyoter (cute, huh?) is thinking about a return to sports car racing it won’t be soon enough to make 2010 look anything but bleak for our favorite road racing series.

The Circus 

They were catching up with Murphy at Suzuka. The “big rumor” was the split between the team descended from the Land of the Long Cloud and the Deutsche daughter. The motor that will power the team’s new supercar was also mentioned as evidence they’re able to jilt the daughter.

The board was meeting in Aichi prefecture, and the Bear hears the plug will be pulled soon. Whether that’s good for sports cars is a matter of dispute around the sport.

Murphy’s Mailbag

Dear Bear: “Any word on how the Don’s Friday dinner went? Didn’t he find $25,000,000 for his LMP?” Jim Bob, Daytona Beach, Florida
Dear Jim Bob: No go. Not enough crazy people in the room. (Besides, only the gubment has that kind of dough, and you know who’s got the peninsula gubment wrapped up, don’t ya? (wink) But the Bear hears the Don is off to Monza for Superleague with Haas’ right hand man. The Haas – Panoz deal is still in works, perhaps imminent.

Dear Bear: BMW and Dunlop have made their partnership official. Does this mean the M3 program will be around for a while? – Bobby, Hilliard, Ohio
Dear Bobby: Yes. But it doesn’t mean they’ll pick up more of the tab.

Dear Bear: Do you think we can get the Captain back in the American Le Mans Series? Scott, Braselton, Georgia
Dear Scott: You saw the headline, ”GM to Wind Down Saturn Brand After Penske Halts Talks,” and you used to work for him, so Murphy shouldn’t have to remind you that whatever the Captain does is fully paid for, and that doesn’t mean out of Rogers pocket, either. The Empire is paying him for another season. Can you find someone to foot the bill for Green Racing? The Bear thought so.

The Bear’s Society Page

Before he landed in the annual get-together in Road Atlanta’s Turn 10 woods, Murphy visited Don, Barbara and the Sebring Turn 13 gang at Turn 10. (That’s a lot of Turns, a lot of friends, and a lot of beer. All of which is the beauty of road racing. The Bear can’t even imagine keeping his furry little butt in the same bleacher seat for a whole race!)

The Bear’s off to Laguna Seca, his most favorite place. He’ll be partying down (and across) the track from the corkscrew on Friday night (photo above from last year’s event), and otherwise can be found at the Sardine Factory, Knuckles, Mission Ranch, the Mucky Duck, and other favorite hangouts.

Soon after Murphy met with  A.C., he was told that some “in the Grand Am camp” claimed discussions (either with other topics, or exclusively) concerned a track sharing, or joint events, between Grand Am and ALMS very much along the lines proposed by Katrina Flood at Last Turn Clubhouse in early May. Was Katrina (who has “broad” connections in motor sport) floating something for someone else?

Braselton says “No!”

The Bear’s rumor reporting has found its way to Braselton’s “official channels.” The head of communications “categorically” told the Bear that “the ALMS is not for sale and no negotiations in that vane have occurred with anyone.” The last such denial from Georgia had to do with IMSA/Champ Car talks in August 2007.

Everything on this story has been coming from Grand Am sources – nothing at all (until now) from the ALMS camp.

Suffering at the World Center of Racing

Just before CNBC premiers (Thursday, July 9th  9p | 10p | 1a ET) a special on the business of NASCAR with the teaser “Once the fastest growing sport in America is now threatened by an imploding car business and loss of corporate (sponsorship) dollars that are its very lifeblood,” some of those problems were on display at Daytona on Independence Day.

Capacity reductions notwithstanding (recent seating changes taking the maximum down to 159,000 from 165,000) the Coca Cola 400 still had 70,000 unsold seats. The backstretch stands (57,000 seats) were not open for the race weekend.

Earlier in the racing day, as the green flag flew for the Grand Am race, a well-connected Bear source, seeing the crowd, wrote from Florida, “They forgot to open the gates to the grandstand! Heads will roll.”

A Grand conspiracy?

Are rumors of ALMS’ demise tied to problems in “the other sports car series?” Someone observed it’s been an annual event at about this time. Murphy hasn’t researched that in detail, but last July on these pages, A.C. was writing about the impending NASCAR acquisition of Grand Am (that finally went public in September). Sure enough, the rumors of a “reunification” of sports car racing were there last season, too, but in April and May. Close enough? Murphy’s even heard that the source of the “demise rumors” is frequently the same. Who? Does this A.C. column finger our Deep Throat?

I missed the Mid-Ohio race, but I am primed and ready for my favorite series to return home to the World Center of Racing. It is going to be awesome, with Grand-Am and the Cup cars running on the same day!

Mid-Ohio was another fantastically officiated race.  All the team owners I talked with last week were absolutely thrilled with the event, and hopefully next year spectators will be allowed.  Although the entry list has been steadily shrinking to ALMS levels, the close competition gave me goose bumps! I don’t know about you, but that race made me want to go out and buy a Rolex and get a car loan at Sun Trust!  Not so sure about Kevin’s wine, however.

There’s no doubt this year is going great. I just saw a NASCAR press release that confirmed the Grand-Am Series is growing by leaps and bounds.  I was very impressed to see Grand-Am merchandise sales up 41%.  I think Wayne Taylor buying those 10 t-shirts at New Jersey might have had something to do with that.

While Grand-Am’s Riley Rolex Series is booming, all you hear out of Braselton are words like ‘homologation” (isn’t that what certain people do in San Francisco?), “green racing” and “relevance.” 

I almost feel sorry for the ALMS. Once NASCAR officially took over my beloved Rolex Series, game over. The experts at Daytona are proving NASCAR will indeed rule the road racing world. Jim F. and Roger E. have penciled in Sebring and Road Atlanta on the 2010 Rolex schedule (which will be Grand-Am’s first races with spectators!). Of course, Petit Le Mans will have to change its name to Petit Daytona. And the DIS Security Department will have to go to Sebring to straighten out those Green Park people (I’ve been told the fine folks at DIS Security have been watching videos of the Iranian police’s suppression of protesters as a model for crowd control).

The transition from ALMS to Grand-Am should be relatively painless for ALMS fans. Other than the NASCAR loyalty oath, a ban on all technology developed in the last 20 years, and mystery debris yellow flags, they probably won’t notice anything different other than bigger fields of Porsche Cup cars and those beautiful DPs!

And yes, Le Mans was another yawner this year. Until Peugeot and Audi prove they can beat Rileys, Coyotes and Crawfish, they haven’t proven anything.

In closing, I can’t wait for the season-ending banquet after Homestead.  I have heard the entertainment lineup will again include Kevin Buckler doing his mime routine again, Mark Raffauf’s band “Mark and the Scale Calibrators,” plus special guest Tony George will join Roger E. in an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson.

A.C.